British pantomime

[silverhalo]

Ok so i was chatting to some people on here and i was trying to explain to them what a pantomime is like, because in England you just grow up with them and think that they are a completely normal thing to go and see, but the more im trying to explain it the more im thinking i sound like a raving lunatic so i was wondering if any other British people could give their own descriptions to try and help!!

[Cool Beans]

I'm not British, but I did work lighting on a pantomime a couple years ago at the local community theatre. It was called The Christmas Cavalier.

Basically, a pantomime is a musical comedy-ish show often (but certainly not always) performed around the holidays, with certain recurring elements, such as an older woman character (the dame) often played by a man in drag and a young male hero often played by a girl. It's all delightfully over the top and tongue-in-cheek, and audience participation is strongly encouraged. Also, there are a lot of risque jokes and situations... I seem to recall the one I worked on having some very blunt allusions to oral sex. Am I on the right track?

[Apocalypte]

Sounds about right Plenty of "OH NO THEY DIDN'T!"

Haven't been to a panto in years, but I used to love them when I was younger.

[silverhalo]

See everyone should see a pantomime sometime in their life! Yeah id definately say you are right.
Im in an amatuer dramatics group and we are putting on a pantomime version of the Wizard of Oz this week.

[silverhalo]

I didnt mean to make it sound like you can only comment if your British sorry

[listen up world]

Does it bear a resemblance to ancient greek and roman pantomime? If anyone knows anything about those. It sounds like it does. It also sounds incredibly fun. I want to see one, and I want to be in one.

[silverhalo]

Yeah i believe that is where it origionated from although has changed a bit along the way. You should definately see one and i would also recommend being in one its amazing fun.

[Lexington]

Oh, pantomime horse, what say you?



Oh, right. Nothing. You're pantomime.

It's just a cultural thing, I think. I grew up with storytime in the library, which I don't think is common anymore. I also found pictures of me dressing up as St Andrew for a Halloween church service when I was four. (1974!) I'm carrynig this small X-shaped wooden cross around with me, which is pretty damned twisted in retrospect. ("Trick or treat! Yes, I'm St Andrew. The Romans later strapped me to this piece of wood and hung me upside-down to punish me for heresy. Why yes, I'd love a fun size Snickers.")

Lex

[Janvier]

Haha !
We spend the holidays in England and we used to go to the pantomime every year around Christmas when I was younger.
Crazy British people it was fun tho (it's behind youuuu !!)

[silverhalo]

Oh no it isn't!!!

I can happily say i have never had the misfortune to play either half of a pantomime horse or cow, I have played some interesting roles but i think one of the halfs of the pantomine horse/cow would be one of my least favourite to try.

Long live Pantomime!

[jotheoneandonly]

in in a pantomime in two weeks! its joseph and the technicoloured dream coat. i play a dancing basket... not my most favourite role

[kaster]

I LOVE pantos! Theyre often based on mock versions of Fairy Tales too, like slightly altered plotlines and title but same characters. Sweets thrown into the audience and water balloons and waterpistols fired and just a massive laugh.
Its such good fun. A lot of script jokes too like the dame, the man in drag, will have a hand mirror in every seen and occasionally turn it round so you can see that the whole script is on it and everyone laughs. Oh what a laugh.